Kentucky Dam Safety and Floodplain Compliance

Kentucky Dam Safety and Floodplain Compliance

Brian Shane Cook, PE, LSIT

Kentucky Division of Water

(502) 564-3410 ext 4822

[email protected]

Celebrating 10 years

KAMM Conference

September 10, 2014

WHY SHOULD YOU BE CONCERNED WITH DAMS IN YOUR COMMUNITY?

Benefits:

Provides a Water Supply, Electrical Power, Irrigation, Livestock Water Supply, Containment of Mine Tailings,

Transportation of goods, and Reduction of Flooding to Agriculture land as well as Homes and Businesses for your

community.

Example SODR project: Willisburg Lake Dam – State owned – Only Water Supply for City of Springfield and

County of Washington with no interconnection

Economics:

Brings in MONEY into your community: Hunting and Fishing, Recreational, Golf Courses, Factories, Businesses,

Sub-divisions around lakes increase tax base, etc. Potentially lower flood insurance rates for community.

Example current state owned dam project: Bullock Pen Lake Dam – State owned – Provides fishing, recreation,

Bullock Pen water supply, and tax base for approximately 55 properties around the lake

Example SODR project: Beech Creek Lake Dam – State owned – City of Manchester / Clay County Water Supply

– Provides fishing, recreation, and a community park for community.

Risk:

Flood damage with or without a dam.


• Mission • To manage, protect and enhance the quality of the

Commonwealth’s water resources.

• Primary Responsibilities • Dam Safety and Floodplain Compliance

• Floodplain Management / Risk MAP / NFIP

Kentucky’s Dam Safety Program

• Kentucky Revised Statutes 151 and Kentucky Administrative

Regulations KAR 401 (4:030, 4:060) define Kentucky’s Dam Safety

Program

• Defines authority (enacted 1966 / amended 1990)

o Administer and Enforce

o Inspect / Assess

o Permit

o Set Standards

o Safety / O&M

• Dam Inventory • 1073 dams

• 18% high hazard

• 82% low or moderate hazard Ownership:

- 648 private

- 425 public

Regulated dams in 116 of 120 counties

Past vs. Present and Future

More conservative

answers to

solutions because

of limited resources

• Land Surveying vs LIDAR

• HEC-RAS vs Geo-HEC-RAS

• NWS Simplified Dam Break

and Dam-BRK vs HEC-RAS,

FLO-2D, Geo-Dam-

BREACH, and DSS-WISE

More refined

financially feasible

answers to solutions

because of better

data and

engineering tools

What is a Dam?

• Definition based on 401 KAR 4:040 Section 2

• Minimum of 25 feet in height measured from the downstream toe to the top of the dam, or

• Impounds 50 acre-feet of water, measured at the top of dam, or

• Poses a hazard to life or property.

Permits for dams

New dam

Required when:

• Height of dam > 25 feet from

downstream toe to top of dam

• Top of dam storage > 50 acre-

feet

• Dam will pose a potential for

loss of human life

• Dam is built across a stream

as defined by KRS 151

Existing dam

Required when:

• Modification or alteration is

beyond the scope of routine

maintenance.

• Change in operating

procedures.

• Change in spillway height or

dimensions.

• Conditions of permit may

require meeting all current

criteria for existing dams.

Dam Inspections

KRS 151.295 & KRS 151.293

Dam Safety Inspects:

• High and Moderate Hazard dams

every 2 years.

• Low Hazard Dams every 5 years.

• Generally takes an hour.

• Inspectors look for:

• Embankment items: stability, vegetation, rodent burrows, erosion, seepage.

• Principle spillway: debris, seepage, corrosion, cracking.

• Emergency spillway: vegetation, erosion, debris.

• Ability to operate drains.

• Downstream development.

• Report is sent to the owner and filed.

When a tree grows on a dam

Hazard Classification

• Based on the potential consequences of failure.

• Classifications are Low, Moderate, and High.

• Hazard Classification can change as the consequences of

failure change. (Downstream land use changes)

• Independent of condition and quality of existing or proposed

dam.

Low Hazard Dam

Potential damage limited to:

• Loss of dam

• Loss of livestock

• Farm out-buildings

• Ag land

• Little used roads

• Loss of life unlikely

Moderate Hazard Dam

Potential damage limited to:

• Industry or commercial

buildings

• Moderately traveled

roads or railroads

• Interruption to utilities

• Public water supply

• No risk of loss of life

High Hazard Dam

• Failure may cause a

threat to or loss of human

life.

• Failure may result in

serious damage to:

• Residential, industrial or

commercial areas

• Important public utilities

• Public buildings

• Major transportation

facilities

Hazard Classification Change

• When downstream conditions

change, hazard classification can

change.

• DOW normally assess the

hazard classification of dams

when performing routine

inspections.

• DOW cannot control downstream

development that complies with

floodplain regulations.

• Dam breach flood often exceeds

the 100-year flood event.

• Local ordinances can prevent

some development.

• Dam owner can obtain

downstream easements.

• Dam Safety may require

upgrades or removal if the dam

does not meet requirements for

the current hazard classification.

• Upgrades may include enlarging

the spillway, raising the dam or

lowering the normal pool

elevation.

• Dam removal may be the least

expensive alternative and must

be done in a controlled manner.

Hazard Class Change Due to Development

Red Lick Creek MPS 1 - Owsley Fork – Berea Water Supply – Owned by Berea College

Designed by NRCS as Moderate Hazard and due to development has been reclassified as a High Hazard


• Open to New Technology and Approaches

– Construction and structural rehabilitation of dams

This RCC Dam at Winchester was one of the first of its kind

designed and built in 1985 – 2nd in Country


Guist Creek Lake Dam• Labyrinth weir (One of the first constructed in U.S. - 1999).


Fox Creek MPS 4 (PLU 566 dam)

• Upgraded to meet high hazard requirements

• Stepped Roller Compacted Concrete spillway (1st in Kentucky) - 2012.

– Pilot working for NRCS.

– Approval by the Dam Safety program was a programmatic paradigm shift.


• Vision • Improved Service

• Enhanced Productivity

• Better Accuracy

• Challenges• Knowledge transfers to next generation employees / dam owners

• Transitioning from paper files to electronic

• Dam Safety paper file security

• Improving the database

• Updating National Inventory of Dams (NID)

• Testing new tools (Geo-Dam-BREACH, DSS-WISE, HEC-RAS 2-D, and

FLO-2D)

• Kentucky Dam Safety Advisory Council

• Considering a modern PMP Study

• Updating Dam Safety regulations and Engineering Memorandum No. 5

• Emergency Action Plans (EAP’s)

Kentucky’s Dam Safety Program Strategy

• Strategic Partnerships

• Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO)

• Dam Safety Advisory Council

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Dam Safety

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA )Risk MAP

• Kentucky Association of Mitigation Managers (KAMM)

• Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife (KYF&W)

• Kentucky Department of Parks (Tourism)

• Kentucky Emergency Management (KYEM)

• Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC)

• National Weather Service (NWS)

• Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)

• University of Kentucky Hazard Mitigation Grants Program

• University of Louisville Center of Hazards Research

• United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

• United States Geological Survey (USGS)


• Kentucky’s Strategic Projects

• Lake Beshear Dam

• Better engineering model → Reclassified dam

• Spurlington Lake Dam

• Better engineering model → Purchased downstream residences

and property → Reclassified dam

• McNeeley Lake Dam

• Better engineering model → Maintained classification*

*Downstream zoning change ensured permanent classification

• Willisburg Lake Dam

• Better engineering model → Identify residences to purchase? →

May be able to reclassify dam?


• Strategic Projects – Kentucky Dam Safety Mitigation Project

• Original Scope• Validate hazard classification

• 100 % (~200) of state-owned and locally owned dams

• Dam failure inundation modeling and mapping

• Risk mitigation planning

• Emergency Action Plans (EAP)

• Catastrophic Long-Term Response Plans (CLTRP)

• Expanded outreach and education

Kentucky’s Risk Map integration into Dam Safety

• Useful for:

– Community Dam Safety Awareness

– Dam Owner Risk Awareness

– Dam Owner Risk Mitigation

Leverage Risk Map’s Non-Regulatory

(Prototype)

– Per each dam studied

– FEMA’s Risk MAP Products

• Strategic Projects

• “Proof of Concept” - Avoid large dam capital improvement projects through:

• Better engineering• Better data• Downstream risk mitigation• Outreach and education

Kentucky Dam Safety Modernization

Tools – Inundation Zone Mapping

• FEMA National Dam Safety Semi-automated Inundation Mapping • Extracts data from portal, models various dam failure modes

• Computes and maps dam failure inundation boundaries


Tools – Risk Screening

• Semi-automated NRCS/USBR tool with FEMA HAZUS-MH

– Incorporates damages and Population At Risk (PAR) from dam breach

– Provides metric to consistently / objectively rank dams

Kentucky Dam SafetyDatasets - Downstream Inundation

Illustrates the difference between

1% annual chance (formerly

named 100 year flood) floodplain

and various breach scenarios

Useful to:

• Pursue Easements

• Pursue Mitigation

• Support Emergency Action

Planning

• Support Long-Term Recovery

Planning

Kentucky Dam SafetyDatasets - Depth Grids

Inundation Depth Grids

Communicates depth of

water in inundation areas

Useful to:

• Assess Risk

• Evacuation Routes



Planning

Kentucky Dam SafetyDatasets - Velocity Grids

Communicates the velocity

of water in inundation area

Useful to:

• Communicate flood risk

• Evacuation Routes



Planning

Kentucky Dam Safety Datasets – Depth / Velocity Severity Grid

Illustrates Combined Effects

of Depth and Velocity

• Indicates areas of high

potential risk

Loss of Life

Property Damages

Useful for: To target /

prioritize mitigation

Kentucky Dam SafetyDatasets - Flood Wave Arrival Time

Useful for:

• Emergency Action Plan

• Emergency Response

Kentucky Dam Safety - Datasets Inundation Zone At-Risk Structures

Hazard Classification Validation

• User Defined Facilities (UDF)

PVA Data

Risk Assessments

• Parcel or building footprints (PVA)

• NOT Census block-based!

Includes attributes:

• Scenario ID

• Actual losses

Building ($) / Content ($)

Inventory ($)

• Percent damages

Building / Content

Inventory

Useful for:

• Prioritizing mitigation

Kentucky Dam Safety - Datasets Inundation Zone Critical Facilities

Risk Assessments

• Not limited to typical

definition

Includes attributes:

• Scenario ID

• Facility Name

• Flood Stage

• Description

Primary Hospital for 3

county area

The only fire station for

the community.

Factory that employs 30%

of county’s workforce

Useful for:

• Targeting mitigation

• Long-Term Recovery Plans

Risk of Kentucky’s Dams - Datasets

Emergency and Recovery Plans

Emergency Action Plans

(EAP)

• IDs Primary / Secondary

Dam Failure Response

Stakeholders

• Address At-Risk Populations

• Flood Wave Time

Dependent

Catastrophic Long-Term

Recovery Plans (CLTRP)

• Dam Function Specific

Water Supply

Flood Control

Recreation

Power

Kentucky Dam Safety - Datasets

Preparedness Report Card

Useful to your Mom: • Communicating risk

• Promoting preparedness

and mitigation

• Provides Snap-Shot of dam

safety risk preparedness

Report Card:

Short-cut to

understanding

Risk


Tools - Field Reconnaissance

• Supports Dam Inspection /

Field Data Collection

– Arc-GIS Mobile Application

• GPS linked

• Tablet/Handheld device (Beta Testing

several devices)

– Database Driven

• Promotes Consistency

• Allows Rapid Data Input

– Observations / Remarks /

Photographs

– Deficiencies / Recommendations

• Supports Dam Inundation Zone

Encroachment Inspections

– Avoids Hazard Classification Creep

– Avoids Future Risk

• Working on Data Portal to Support Dam Safety Program

Functions

– Data Management

– Inspections

– Reporting

– Communications

Kentucky Dam Safety Modernization Tools – Portal


Future Direction

• Moving forward – So, where are we headed?

• Integrate new processes and auto-tools

• Integration of Field Data Collector into SOP

• New database

• Integration of CHAMPS / IFLOOD

• Expand dam safety education and outreach

• Integration with KY All Hazard Mitigation Plans

• Implement projects and Expand analysis to ALL dams

• Solicit partnerships

• Reduce risk

• Communicate risk

• Expand compliance

Partners:

FEMA, KACo, Ky F&W, Ky Tourism, Ky EM HMGP, KLC, NRCS, KYTC, NWS, USACE, USGS, Private Parties

What has YOUR Dam Safety staff been doing for you lately !

Kentucky Dam Safety’s 1sts

• Hazard Mitigation Grant – Risk Assessments

• Top User of Homeland Security’s DSS-WISE

• FEMA Pilot Project – Model Comparisons

• Dramatically increasing number of EAP’s

• FEMA grant to develop inspection tool and

database

• Revolution of Dam Safety while still keeping

up with current workload

So, Why should you be concerned with dams?

Benefits:

Every community must have water!

Economics:

Brings in money into your community!

Risk:

Flood damage with or without a dam.

So, How can you help us to work with you to sustain your community?

Partnerships, Maintaining Structures, Zoning downstream, and PVA data.

Summary

Kentucky Dam Safety and Floodplain Compliance

Mitigation comes in many

different forms and really

does matter

Questions / Comments

Brian Shane Cook, PE, LSIT


(502) 564-3410 ext 4822

[email protected]

Kentucky Dam Safety and Floodplain Compliance

Documents

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